口语：徒劳无功 beat a dead horse_小升初口语

口语：徒劳无功 beat a dead horse

　　今天我们要讲的美国习惯用语是：beat a dead horse。大家都知道，dead horse是死马的意思，动词beat是打的意思。Beat a dead horse连在一起是徒劳无功的意思。

　　最近办公室洗手间的水龙头漏水，我跟维修部门反映了好几次，一直没人来修。我显然是在beat a dead horse。

　　下面让我们看看这名热心的选民为什么会觉得自己是在beat a dead horse。

　　例句-1：Again and again, Ive tried to get senators in my state to ban smoking in restaurants. But its been hopeless so far; they havent listened to me. I hate to beat a dead horse but I feel they need to pass this legislation in order to improve public health.

　　这个选民说：我三番五次想让我们州的参议员设法禁止在餐馆里吸烟，但至今毫无进展，他们根本不理会我。我不想白费劲儿，但是又觉得他们应该通过禁烟的法案，让大众健康受益。

　　美国很多人都承认，二手烟危害健康。现在美国越来越多的城市，甚至州都已经开始立法，禁止在公共场所吸烟。但是想让烟民戒烟，无异于beating a dead horse。

　　想让一个人改变自己的习惯确实不是一件容易的事。一名家长抱怨说，

　　例句-2：My sons room is a constant mess even though he knows hes expected to keep it tidy. My wife and I have done everything from pleading with him to threatening him, but its been a waste of our time. Were simply beating a dead horse. Hell never change.